A newsletter to accelerate productivity and improve quality

Hello colleague,

In this issue, our case study from Southern Implants provides valuable insights into the power of text-based communication to save time and money. Also, be sure to check out the archived webinar from Smart Training titled HIPAA-Compliant Texting and Collaboration in Dentistry. 

I'm often asked about issues related to HIPAA compliance - by dental providers and practitioners as well as patients who wonder why texting isn't more commonly used for communicating with healthcare professionals. I typically share comments similar to the following which I found recently in an attorney-authored article titled Getting Ready to Text Patient Information? Think Twice! 

"Texting patient information is not prohibited by HIPAA and can be beneficial for both the patient and provider. Providers who wish to text with patients or other providers should take steps to strengthen the security of both the mobile device used for the text and the transmission of the text. This means adding additional levels of security."

For many, especially smaller practices, the reality of creating extra levels of security may seem costly or complex. Yet, it doesn't need to be. This is precisely the reason I launched Awrel a few years ago — to provide the first HIPAA-compliant texting application that makes it quicker and easier for dentists, labs and suppliers to share and store information in a secure environment. And we make it available at no cost to you.

Thanks to all now using Awrel for texting! We look forward to welcoming new users. For patients, texting provides quicker, more convenient communications. For the dental industry, it provides new opportunities to engage with patients and colleagues — to enhance customer service, streamline workflow, accelerate productivity and improve quality.

PS: We recently introduced dental-specific voice-enabled solutions which provide new opportunities for hands-free workflow. Imagine using only your voice to place an order from a lab.

DENTAL CASE

Opportunity Cost and Value Chain for Fabrication of a Screw Retained Implant Supported Crown

Our Dental Velocity case presentations focus on concepts and procedures that:

This presentation will introduce the concepts of opportunity cost and the value chain in the context of a case for fabrication of a screw retained implant supported crown.

Read the full case study 

INSIGHTS FOR DENTISTRY

From Dental Professionals, for Dental Professionals

Productivity Plus: Alexa In My Operatory, Now What?

Hats off to Dental Economics Chief Editor Cris Salierno, DDS, who recently shared perspectives about adding the Amazon Echo to his operatories. With a price point under $50 for the Echo Dot, he stated that one of the main reasons he bought it was to end the music war that’s been raging in his practice. "Now people can play their own music in their operatory, and peace has been restored to the world."

But how can Alexa really be used? "I’ve heard about dentists who set timers for impression material and entertain their patients with jokes from Alexa," Salierno wrote. "Alexa is an easy way to show our patients that we’re modern and forward-thinking. Patients don’t say to their friends, 'My dentist did a great filling today,' but they might actually say, 'My dentist asked Alexa to play my favorite music today.'"

Some dental companies are now finding ways to integrate with Echo products, Salierno said. In fact, todays' most innovative dental product and service providers are leveraging "artificially intelligent" voice applications to enhance customer service with voice-guided data entry and other voice-based transactions. HIPAA-compliant hands-free lab ordering, for example, can be accomplished with smart conversational voice experiences delivered via cell phone or voice devices such as Amazon's Echo or Google's Home. Consider this exchange:

DDS: "Alexa, open my digital lab."

ALEXA: "What would you like to order?"

DDS: "An implant supported abutment and crown."

ALEXA: "Would you like cement or screw retention?"

The subsequent conversation uses a custom-developed decision tree to ask questions about location, implant type and size, abutment and crown materials, and date required.  

Voice is the next digital frontier. Organizations across all sectors are now using voice to improve processes, build brands and drive commerce. Dentistry can reap benefits as well.

Learn more about voice-enabled workflow solutions for dentistry

SOLUTIONS UPDATES

Awrel Case Study

Southern Implants Leverages HIPAA-Compliant Texting to Streamline Communication and Collaboration  

Southern Implants is a pioneer in osseointegration of implant devices, surgical techniques, patient education and options for treatment. When Tom Bishop joined the company's executive team, he embraced the opportunity to help lead their expansion into North America. Moving from a position with a cybersecurity software vendor, he fully understood the risks organizations face when creating and managing their IT infrastructure. 

"Using basic email services such as Outlook or Gmail to transfer patient information, even if it's just financial data, does not align with U.S. privacy laws. Hackers can access protected information. It's our responsibility to prevent this," said Bishop. 

Read the full Southern Implants case study

EVENTS

Archived webinar

HIPAA-Compliant Texting and Collaboration In Dentistry 

We extend appreciation to our colleagues at Smart Training for inviting us to lead their recent webinar and we thank the many dental professionals who attended. We discussed new approaches to benefit from convenient, worry-free digital communication with topics including:  

Listen to the archived webinar

IN THE NEWS

Inside Dentistry, January 4, 2017

Awrel Offers Dentistry’s First HIPAA-Compliant Texting Application at No Cost to Individual

Dentistry Today, January 31, 2018

When I Need You

In his Technology Today column, Paul Feuerstein, DMD, wrote, "Most of us are guilty of sending x-rays, images, or other information via email, but if it is not a secure portal, you are in violation of federal law and subject to extraordinary fines." He discussed telemedicine in dentistry and shared links to a few applications.

Toward the end of the article, Feuerstein said, "In addition to these products, a new program has been announced by a true visionary in this arena. Dr. Arnie Rosen of Boston launched Transcend Dental more than 20 years ago, which used a secure internet portal. His problem was that it was so ahead of its time, as no one knew much about the internet back then. Transcend is still alive and well in the dental lab industry. He is currently launching Awrel ( awrel.com), which is based on HIPAA-compliant texting and also has a few more products on the horizon."  Read the article